how to get referral for ect treatment in california

ECT Physician Referral Initiating a referral Contact Forbes Regional Hospital ’s ECT department coordinator, Monday-Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm. Telephone (412) 858-2707 and/or FAX: (412) 858-2989 Coordinator will initiate the eligibility process and interface with Dr. P.V. Nickell

Full Answer

Who can get ECT in California?

Who can get ECT in California? Any adult age 18 or older with an appropriate clinical diagnosis and who is capable of giving voluntary informed consent can receive ECT. Others, including adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age, may receive ECT after special reviews and legal procedures are followed.

How do I get referred for ECT?

To receive ECT treatment, you can be referred by your psychiatrist or by a psychiatric inpatient hospital. Our team will work closely with your psychiatrist to keep him or her involved.

Can you receive ECT in a hospital?

You can receive ECT while you’re admitted to the hospital or on an outpatient basis. ECT is performed by a trained psychiatrist, with assistance from nurses and anesthesiologists who administer general anesthesia and provide close monitoring during the procedure.

Where can I get ECT treatment in Mountain View?

The initial evaluation and follow-up visits take place at the outpatient behavioral health offices, and treatments are performed at the Mountain View Hospital (El Camino Hospital). To receive ECT treatment, you can be referred by your psychiatrist or by a psychiatric inpatient hospital.

Is ECT legal in California?

In California, only medical doctors licensed to practice can perform ECT. 16. What is “excessive use” of ECT? Anything more than 15 treatments in 30 days or 30 treatments in a year is “excessive use” of ECT.

Who prescribes electroconvulsive therapy?

ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. It is typically administered by a team of trained medical professionals that includes a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.

Do you need informed consent for ECT?

Written informed consent remains the standard before the initiation of ECT and requires the inclusion of several components to be considered valid. Prospective patients must be aware of risks and benefits of ECT as well as risks and benefits of alternate, and potentially less effective, interventions.

Does insurance cover ECT?

An ECT session costs around $2,500 per session, including anesthesia. There may be extra costs if a hospital stay is needed. ECT costs are covered by most health insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Where can I get ECT in California?

ECT is performed at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital in the ECT Treatment Suite.

Can a patient request ECT?

ECT and the Mental Health Act 1983 If you are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, ECT can normally only be given if you consent to it and your approved clinician or a second opinion appointed doctor (SOAD) certifies that you've consented, and that you have capacity to do so.

How do you take ECT consent?

The consent form for ECT should include the following information: A description of the ECT procedure with proposed benefits and potential risks. A description of treatment alternatives including a discussion of no treatment. A discussion of options regarding electrode placement and stimulus type.

Can I refuse ECT treatment?

You don't have to agree to ECT if you don't want it. If you agree at first, you can change your mind later. If you say that you don't want to be given ECT at any future date, this is called an 'advance decision to refuse treatment'.

Can you give ECT section 2?

Under Section 2, you can't refuse treatment. However some treatments can't be given to you without your consent unless certain criteria are met. These treatments include electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). If you are unhappy about your treatment, you should talk to your named nurse or psychiatrist.

How much does ECT cost USA?

ECT treatments cost $300 to $1,000 per treatment, with an initial course requiring five to 15 treatments followed by 10 to 20 maintenance treatments per year, the researchers noted. That means the annual cost can be more than $10,000, compared with a cost of several hundred dollars for many antidepressant medications.

Does ECT help with anxiety?

ECT is not used to treat anxiety and therefore does not have a role in people who have solely an anxiety disorder. ECT may have a role in people who have comorbid depression and anxiety.

Is ECT better than TMS?

We found that ECT (P<0.0001) was more effective than TMS (P<0.012) (not statistically significant in group effect) in TRD patients. However, ECT patients reported a higher percentage of side effects (P<0.01) and the TMS treatment scored better in terms of patient preference.

What is ECT therapy?

ECT is a procedure in which an electric current is passed through your brain briefly to create a controlled seizure. This therapy can relieve symptoms of severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other conditions for which medications or other treatments haven’t been successful. For some, ECT can be lifesaving.

How does ECT work?

How ECT Works. ECT uses electrodes, attached to your scalp, to create electrical stimulation of the brain in order to induce a safe seizure, which can improve the symptoms of depression, mania and psychosis. A number of recent technological advances have improved safety and reduced the risk of side effects.

Is it safe to do ECT?

ECT is performed by a trained psychiatrist, with assistance from nurses and anesthesiologists who administer general anesthesia and provide close monitoring during the procedure. ECT is even safe enough for pregnant women when other treatments have been unsuccessful at managing symptoms of a serious psychiatric condition.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is available for people suffering from particular behavioral and emotional disturbances, including some forms of depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. It is most often used in the treatment of severe depression that has not responded to medications and psychotherapy.

How many sessions are there in ECT?

Conducted by the ECT Program coordinator on the same day as the PrePare clinic appointment. Treatment is a series of 6–15 sessions occurring on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. ECT treatments occur in the morning and about three hours from the time of arrival until discharge.

Is UCSF a teaching hospital?

UCSF is a teaching hospital, so expect that psychiatric residents and medical students may be involved in your care. This is scheduled by the ECT Program coordinator following the initial evaluation. Conducted by the ECT Program coordinator on the same day as the PrePare clinic appointment.

Does UCSF cover ECT?

ECT is generally covered by health insurance providers. However, not all providers will cover ECT treatments at UCSF (even if the initial evaluation is covered). This is because many insurance providers have preferred, contracted ECT centers.

What do you do before ECT?

Before ECT, you receive medicine to relax you (muscle relaxant). You also receive a short-acting anesthetic to minimize any pain. The medical team places electrodes on your scalp to monitor your brain activity and deliver the electric current.

How long does it take to get an ECT?

ECT itself takes about five to 10 minutes, with added time for preparation and recovery.

What is electroconvulsive therapy?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) If you or someone you love suffers from a severe behavioral health condition and other treatments have not worked, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can often provide rapid relief to help you feel better and improve your quality of life. ECT can help symptoms of severe depression, bipolar disorder, mania and more. ...

What are the side effects of ECT?

Side Effects. Risks and side effects may include confusion, memory loss, physical side effects and medical complications. These risks will vary by patient. Discuss your ECT treatment plan and its potential risks and side effects with your doctor.

Can ECT be done in a hospital?

You may be a candidate for ECT if medication or other treatments have not worked. ECT is done in a hospital setting while you are under general anesthesia.

Is ECT safe for depression?

ECT – Safe and Effective. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure that passes a small electric current through your brain to treat depression and other debilitating behavioral health illnesses . In many cases, ECT can significantly reduce or even reverse symptoms such as severe depression, suicidal thoughts, mania and catatonia.

What information do you need to know about ECT?

The information must include: your condition; what ECT is, including information about side effects and risks such as memory loss; how long and how often you will receive ECT;

Who must review your ECT records?

Your doctor must also sign your record. Two psychiatrists or neurologists must review your records and agree with your doctor that ECT is the best treatment for you. The psychiatrists or neurologists cannot be your personal doctors, but one of them must personally examine you.

What does ECT stand for in medical terms?

ECT stands for Electroconvulsive Treatment. It causes a person to have a seizure via electrical or chemical means for therapeutic purposes. It is commonly known as “shock treatment.”. 2.

What does it mean to give written informed consent to ECT?

Written informed consent means: your doctor has given you a form explaining ECT and all the information in paragraph (c) above;

What is ECT information?

your condition; what ECT is, including information about side effects and risks such as memory loss ; how long and how often you would receive ECT; whether ECT would help you to improve for a little while or a long time; whether you would improve without ECT;

Why is ECT considered?

The reasons why ECT is being considered must include information about other treatments that have been considered and why ECT is the best treatment for you. Your doctor must also sign your record. Information about your treatment is given to a relative of your choice if you want a relative to know about your treatment.

Can a doctor give you ECT?

The doctor can give you ECT beyond the “excessive use” limits only if the doctor first gets approval from the facility or the county. The request for approval must include your diagnosis, why the doctor is recommending extra treatments, a maximum number of treatments, and that the doctor considered other treatments but thinks that extra ECT is less risky for you. If extra ECT is approved, the doctor and facility must still follow all applicable procedures (see Questions #10 and #11).

How many times a week can you get ECT?

ECT can be done while you are hospitalized (inpatient) or as an outpatient procedure. Usually, ECT treatments are given two to three times weekly for three to four weeks — for a total of six to 12 treatments. Talk with your doctor about what your treatment plan will look like.

What is electroconvulsive therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a mental health treatment, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain. The electric currents cause a brief seizure, on purpose. After ECT, doctors see changes in a patient’s brain chemistry.

Is ECT safe to use?

ECT is much safer today than it once was. Early treatment methods – done without anesthesia – led to memory loss and other serious side effects. Although ECT still causes some side effects, it is now done safely to achieve the most benefit with the fewest possible risks.

Does ECT work for everyone?

ECT also may not work for everyone. Even after your symptoms improve, you'll need ongoing depression treatment. Often, ongoing treatment includes psychological counseling and/or antidepressants or other medications. Ongoing treatment may also include occasional (maintenance) ECT.

Can ECT be used for dementia?

Agitation and aggression in people with dementia. ECT is sometimes used as a treatment option in special cases where medications can’t be used, and other therapies haven’t worked, including: When older adults who are sensitive to drug side effects. For people who prefer ECT treatments over taking medications.

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is recognized by the National Institutes of Mental Health as a successful treatment option for severe depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Patients with these illnesses may experience sadness, despair, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite and inability to sleep. They may also have suicidal tendencies.

What to do after ECT?

After your ECT course, medications will likely be required as maintenance therapy to help prevent a return of your illness. ECT cannot resolve other problems associated with personal relationships or how an individual copes with the stressors of life. Other interventions such as psychotherapy may be recommended.

What is electroconvulsive therapy?

Electroconvulsive Therapy is a treatment for adults 18 years and older who suffer from severe episodes of major depression, persistent suicidal ideation, mania and some types of schizophrenia and who have either not responded to medications or whose symptoms are too severe to permit medication trials.

How long does ECT last?

This generally lasts from a few minutes to several hours. Many patients experience temporary loss of recent or remote memories with ECT, especially with bilateral ECT. Other common side effects that may occur on the days a patient has an ECT treatment are nausea, headache, muscle aches or jaw discomfort.

Is electroconvulsive therapy effective?

Electroconvulsive Therapy has been proven to be a useful treatment method with more than half of severely treatment-resistant patients achieving remission, according to the National Institutes of Health. Still, there is no guarantee that ECT will be effective. Your doctor will discuss with you why ECT inpatient or ECT outpatient therapy is being ...

Is Rolling Hills Hospital an ECT center?

By offering multiple levels of care, Rolling Hills Hospital, as an ECT treatment center, is able to better serve our patients and their family members wherever they may be on the journey to recovery.

Is ECT effective?

Clinical and technical improvements in ECT have resulted in more effective treatments with fewer side effects. Research has found that ECT can provide dramatic, life-saving results when other treatments, such as psychiatric medications or psychotherapy, have failed or proven ineffective.

What To Expect

Because of the effects of anesthesia, you may not remember the procedure. As with medicine, there can be side effects from ECT.

Why It Is Done

ECT is used for severe depression and other psychiatric or neurological conditions (such as bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or schizophrenia).

What is ECT therapy?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used with individuals who have severe mental illness, such as major depression or bipolar disorder that have not responded to other treatments. ECT can be provided in an outpatient or inpatient setting. The Inpatient Hospital Liaison will work with the specific person’s managed care plan and medical director to make a decision, and if approved, they will work on getting treatment.

How to contact behavioral health?

For more information about this program, or to see if you qualify, please contact the Behavioral Health Call Center at 1-800-704-0900.

How often do you have to send a mental health report?

Yes. A doctor or facility that performs ECT must send a report every three months to the local mental health director, who must then send a copy of the report to the state director of mental health. The report must include the number of persons who received ECT in each of these categories: (1) involuntary patients who gave written informed consent; (2) involuntary patients who a court said could not give written informed consent and who received ECT against their will; (3) voluntary patients who gave written informed consent; and (4) voluntary patients who a court said could not give written informed consentIf you have any questions, contact your county Patients’ Rights Advocate, or call:

Can you change your mind on ECT?

If you do change your mind, ECT must be stopped immediately. Then, ECT cannot be given to you unless you give your written informed consent again.

Can a doctor give you ECT?

The doctor can give you ECT beyond the “excessive use” limits only if the doctor first gets approval from the facility or the county. The request for approval must include your diagnosis, why the doctor is recommending extra treatments, a maximum number of treatments, and that the doctor considered other treatments but thinks that extra ECT is less risky for you. If extra ECT is approved, the doctor and facility must still follow all applicable procedures (see Questions #10 and #11).

Do mental health facilities have to review ECT?

Yes. Facilities that perform ECT must have a committee to review all ECT treatments and to make sure they are necessary. Every three months, the committee must review all ECT given in the facility. The local mental health director must also set up a committee to review ECT given outside a facility. Records of these committees are available.

Services

Insurance Coverage

Referrals For Appointments

• Patients referred for ECT must have a primary treating psychiatrist who is board-eligible or board-certified. The referring psychiatrist should email any of the following providers: 1. Descartes Li, MD, program director: [email protected], (415) 476-7448 2. Ramotse Saunders, MD: [email protected], (415) 476-7506 3. Eric Ellis, program c...

See more on psych.ucsf.edu

Forms and Resources

Further Information on Ect